Gandalf-like!Dumbledore

[fun_n_games_2663]

No: HPFGUIDX 47629

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Melody" <Malady579 at h...> wrote:

Melody asks:

>But, I do not understand
> the logic behind a Gandalf-like!Dumbledore who has all these 
wonderful
> gifts and all these wonderful talents and yet does not enter the 
fray.
> 
> For Dumbledore (and this is *not* the Dishwasher!Dumbledore so this 
a
> Dumbledore who is not planning anything unless Voldemort comes back 
to
> life) to say that he wants to "sit this one out" is an even colder
> version of Dumbledore in my eyes.  It says to me that even though he
> is able to defeat Voldemort by himself, he chooses not to because he
> wants to see if the younger generations can.
> 
> Imitation is the highest form of flattery but if you do not show 
them
> something to imitate, then how can they ever learn?  Hearing someone
> can be powerful and *seeing* Dumbledore blast Moody!Crouch's door is
> two *very* different experiences.  I for one got goose-bumps at that
> part.  Still do thinking about it right now.  :)  Harry learned at
> that moment just what a powerful good wizard is, and no book could 
of
> taught him that.

First of all, hello Melody and thanks for responding to the post. I 
think Dumbldore does jump into the fray when he has to.  He pulled 
Quirelmort off of Harry, He specifically told them to use the 
timeturner, and he blasted Crouch!Moody.  I guess I'm suggesting that 
Dumbldore realizes he may not be around to beat LV when the time 
comes, and he certainly won't be around when LV's apprentice or the 
next dark lord comes knocking.  He want to train Harry, but he keeps 
a watchful eye and provides as much help as he feels he needs to win 
the current battle, although not the war, yet.  Based upon the books 
to date, I'm certain that if LV showed up in the great hall and 
started blasting away at students, Dumbledore would not just sit back 
and watch.  I think we would see a great showdown.  My point is that 
while LV was not powerful enough to do such serious harm, he can let 
Harry blunder along and see how he does.

Melody then asks: 
> 
> First,
> If Dumbledore figures it out before it happens, then he *did* know
> what evil is cooking.  You can only truly *help* the hero if you 
know
> what to do to help precisely, and based on the fact Dumbledore was
> always right on in his help, then it seems he does know his enemy
> quite well even if he did not help create the 'flawed potion'.

Now me--I do not suggest that Dumbledore knows what LV is up to ahead 
of time.  I just think he's smart enough to have figured out what is 
going on long before our heroes.  PS is an example.  Dumbledore knew 
something was going on before term ever started, otherwise he would 
not have sent Hagrid to collect the stone.  I think Dumbledore could 
have at that point destroyed the stone and foiled the plan.  He 
doesn't though.  Instead he lets Harry see the stone being collected 
from Gringotts, lets Harry and the gang work out the clues, lets 
Quirrel make his attempt, and lets Harry try to save the stone--all 
the while judging whether Harry has the mettle to be the next dark 
fighter and training him in the process.  I don't think the stone was 
ever in danger.  If Harry had tripped up at any point, Dumbledore 
would have jumped in--and did so at the very end.


Meldoy then writes (sorry, I couldn't snip and keep the context): 
> 
> 
> And Second,
> Let me understand you here because I am a bit confused.  Only a
> bit...stop laughing.
> 
> Counselor!Dumbledore is not planning a war plan until the enemy 
truly
> returns.  (so no flawed potion)
> 
> C!D knows evil is out there but he wants the youth to rise up and
> defeat it.  (how will they ever learn)
> 
> C!D plans little ways to help "the heroes" to make them think for
> themselves.  (got to busy the hours somehow)
> 
> -so then-
> 
> Bk 1:  C!D figures out Quirrelmort is coming after the stone but 
just
> picks Harry to win that battle and shows him the mirror and lets him
> work on his snitch/key skills.  (Why Harry?)
> 
> Bk 2:  C!D figures out there is a basilisk turning people into stone
> and could in fact kill someone but wants Harry to defeat the snake
> with a songbird and patched hat.  (Again, why Harry?  Why wait?)
> 
> Bk 3:  C!D knows that Black is after Harry, but upon discovering 
Black
> is innocent and shows Harry and Hermione how to help him while 
letting
> Peter get away.  (Ok, it is obvious why Harry there, so I ask why 
let
> Peter get away?  Seems he slacked a bit there.)
> 
> So my question should be obvious.  Why is Couselor!Dumbledore so 
bent
> on Harry?  There are other students that could use some war-time
> education as well.  Why Harry?  Seems Dumbledore could have other
> students involved to win this war and could of been there to get
> Peter.  Why *only* Harry if all Dumbledore is doing is educating 
him?

This is the sixty four dollar question, that I think will be answered 
in the future.  My guess?  I thought you'd never ask!  I think 
Dumbledore has tried to find other "successors" to him.  Perhaps 
James?  Perhaps Lilly?  Perhaps Snape?  I also think either they 
haven't quite measured up or were killed.  Harry of course starts 
with a head start--he's the boy who lived and he has something on LV 
in the love protection.  He's starts off as a great candidate.  He 
then passes the stone test with flying colors, showing bravery, 
loyalty, logic, leadership--all the qualities Dumbledore is looking 
for.   Since he does so well in Book 1, why would Dumbledore go 
looking elsewhere in book 2? 

Melody then suggests:

> It was Harry being trained about the three deadly curses and his
> innane speed that got him out of the graveyard.  Well besides the 
wand
> thing, but Harry was not taught that.  The curses were taught in the
> 4th year and earlier than normal at that.  So it seems, Dumbledore
> knew they (i.e. Harry) might need it.
> 
> But, yes Dumbledore did not come running in GoF like in the other
> three.  I cannot, nor will I, deny that. <g>

Well, actually, I think several other things helped Harry--He had to 
fight Quirrel hand to hand and overcome his fears to do so.  He had 
to fight the basilisk and overcome his fears to do so.  He had to 
learn about duelling, which he learned in Book 2 and practiced in 
Books 2 and 3. And he has certainly learned that he can fight LV and 
win, having done so in books 1 and 2.  Not too many full grown 
wizards could have faced down LV without being frozen in fear if they 
had not lived through Harry's last 3 years.

russ